New Guinea Impatiens plant named ‘KIE165’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of New Guinea  Impatiens  plant named ‘KIE165’, characterized by its compact, upright, outwardly spreading and mounded plant habit; freely branching habit; dense and bushy growth habit; dark green-colored leaves; freely flowering habit; and large orange-colored flowers that are positioned above and beyond the foliage.

Botanical designation: Impatiens hawkeri.

Cultivar denomination: ‘KIE165’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of NewGuinea Impatiens plant, botanically known as Impatiens hawkeri, andhereinafter referred to by the name ‘KIE165’.

The new Impatiens is a product of a planned breeding program conductedby the Inventor in Gensingen, Germany. The objective of the breedingprogram was to develop new Impatiens cultivars with numerous largeflowers and attractive foliage and flower coloration.

The new Impatiens originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor in October, 2000, of a proprietary selection of Impatienshawkeri identified as code number 99-176, not patented, as the female,or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Impatiens hawkeriidentified as code number 99-298, not patented, as the male, or pollen,parent. The cultivar KIE165 was discovered and selected by the Inventoras a single flowering plant within the progeny of the statedcross-pollination in a controlled environment in Gensingen, Germany inMarch, 2001.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal cuttings propagatedin a controlled environment in Gensingen, Germany since April, 2001 hasshown that the unique features of this new Impatiens are stable andreproduced true to type in successive generations of asexualreproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar KIE165 has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature and light intensity,without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘KIE165’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘KIE165’ as a new and distinct cultivar of NewGuinea Impatiens.

-   -   1. Compact, upright, outwardly spreading and mounded plant        habit.    -   2. Freely branching habit; dense and bushy growth habit.    -   3. Dark green-colored leaves.    -   4. Freely flowering habit.    -   5. Large orange-colored flowers that are positioned above and        beyond the foliage.

In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Gensingen, Germany, plants ofthe new Impatiens differed from plants of the female parent selection inthe following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Impatiens were more compact than plants of        the female parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Impatiens were more freely branching than        plants of the female parent selection.    -   3. Plants of the new Impatiens had larger flowers than plants of        the female parent selection.

In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Gensingen, Germany, plants ofthe new Impatiens differed from plants of the male parent selection inthe following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Impatiens were more compact than plants of        the male parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Impatiens were more freely branching than        plants of the male parent selection.    -   3. Plants of the new Impatiens had larger flowers than plants of        the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Impatiens can be compared to plants of the New GuineaImpatiens cultivar BFP-605 Orange, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No.10,078. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Gensingen, Germany,plants of the new Impatiens differed from plants of the cultivar BFP-605Orange in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Impatiens had darker green-colored leaves        than plants of the cultivar BFP-605 Orange.    -   2. Plants of the new Impatiens had larger flowers than plants of        the cultivar BFP-605 Orange.    -   3. Plants of the new Impatiens and the cultivar BFP-605 Orange        differed in flower color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of thenew Impatiens. The photographs show the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color valuescited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describethe colors of the new Impatiens.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a side perspectiveview of a typical flowering plant of ‘KIE165’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the sheet is a close-up view of a typicalflower of ‘KIE165’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The followingobservations and measurements describe the plants grown in Encinitas,Calif. during the winter and early spring in a polyethylene-coveredgreenhouse and under conditions and practices which approximate thosegenerally used in commercial New Guinea Impatiens production. During theproduction of the plants, day temperatures averaged 24° C., nighttemperatures averaged 19° C. and light levels averaged 4,000 footcandles. Measurements and numerical values represent averages fortypical flowering plants. Single plants were grown in one-galloncontainers and were about 18 weeks old when the photographs and thedetailed description were taken.

-   Botanical classification: Impatiens hawkeri cultivar KIE165.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Impatiens            hawkeri identified as code number 99-176, not patented.        -   Male, or pollen parent.—Proprietary selection of Impatiens            hawkeri identified as code number 99-298, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 14 days at 23° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 17 days at 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 21 days            at 23° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 24 days            at 20° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; white to brown in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant form.—Compact, upright, outwardly spreading and            mounded plant habit.        -   Growth and branching habit.—Vigorous and freely branching            habit; about eleven to twelve lateral branches developing at            the base; dense and bushy growth habit. Pinching, that is,            removal of the terminal apices, is typically not required,            but will enhance branching.        -   Plant height.—About 28 cm.        -   Plant diameter or spread.—About 30 cm by 40 cm.        -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 20 cm. Diameter: About 1 cm.            Internode length: About 4 cm to 5 cm. Texture: Smooth,            glabrous. Color: 178A.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite or in whorls, simple.        -   Length.—About 10 cm.        -   Width.—About 3.5 cm.        -   Shape.—Elliptical.        -   Apex.—Acuminate.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Margin.—Serrate with ciliation.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.        -   Color.—Developing foliage, upper surface: 147A. Developing            foliage, lower surface: 137C. Fully expanded foliage, upper            surface: Darker than 147A; venation, 148C. Fully expanded            foliage, lower surface: 137B; venation, 185B.        -   Petiole.—Length: About 2.2 cm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,            upper and lower surfaces: 185B.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower type and flowering habit.—Single axillary flowers.            Freely flowering habit; usually about four to five open            flowers and flower buds per lateral branch. Flowers            positioned above the foliage and typically face upright or            outward. Flowers last about one week under greenhouse            conditions. Petals self-cleaning, gynoecium persistent.            Flowers not fragrant.        -   Natural flowering season.—Year-round under greenhouse            conditions. In the garden, flowering from spring until fall            in Germany. Plants begin flowering about eight to twelve            weeks after planting.        -   Flower size.—Length: About 6.6 cm. Width: About 6.2 cm.            Depth: About 2.8 cm.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 2.5 cm. Diameter: About 9 mm.            Shape: Ovoid; pointed. Color: 42B; on the top, 59A.        -   Petals.—Quantity/arrangement: Five per flower in a single            whorl. Length, banner petal: About 3.2 cm. Length, lateral            and lower petals: About 3.5 cm. Width, banner petal: About            4.6 cm. Width, lateral petals: About 3.9 cm. Width, lower            petals: About 4.3 cm. Shape: Cordate. Apex: Emarginate.            Base: Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower            surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When opening, upper            surface: Brighter and more saturated with 40A. When opening,            lower surface: 41B. Fully opened, upper surface: 40A;            towards the base, 65C; at base, 66A. Fully opened, lower            surface: 41A to 41B.        -   Sepals.—Quantity/arrangement: Three; one modified into an            elongated spur. Length: About 1.6 cm. Width: About 4 mm.            Shape: Elliptical. Apex: Acuminate. Base: Obtuse. Margin:            Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous.            Color, upper and lower surfaces: 159D tinged with 48D. Spur            length: About 5.8 cm. Spur diameter: At flower, about 4 mm;            at apex, less than 1 mm. Spur texture: Smooth, glabrous.            Spur color: 53A.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 5.5 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.            Angle: About 45° from vertical. Strength: Strong. Texture:            Smooth, glabrous. Color: 59A.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Stamens.—Quantity: Five fused at anthers; filaments free.            Anther size: About 4 mm by 6 mm. Anther color: 11B. Pollen            amount: Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 155D.        -   Pistils.—Quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About            4 mm. Stigma shape: Rounded. Stigma color: 145C. Style            color: 145C. Ovary color: 145A.-   Seed/fruit: Seed and fruit production have not been observed.-   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Impatiens have not been    observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to New Guinea    Impatiens.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Impatiens have been    observed to tolerate temperatures from about 16° C. to about 30° C.

1. A new and distinct New Guinea Impatiens plant named ‘KIE165’ asillustrated and described.